2014 Election Day Thread

[Talint]

They have a terrible structural disadvantage in the Senate in 2016. Combine that with Hillary running basically unopposed in her party and the turnout for her and I highly doubt this Senate majority will make it to year 3.

Vox.com has a nice article that outlines at least my pessimism for democrats retaking the senate in 2016.

If the Democrats had held the GOP to a 51- or 52-seat majority, it would seem quite likely that they'd manage to pluck off a couple of competitive seats from that favorable 2016 map. But netting four or five seats (depending on the outcome of the presidential race, they'll need 50 or 51 seats for Senate control) will be more difficult for the party.
...
Looking more closely at the Republicans in potentially competitive states next cycle, they don't necessarily seem so vulnerable. Pat Toomey (PA) and Rob Portman (OH) have attempted to portray themselves as moderate pragmatists. The 81-year old Chuck Grassley (IA) has already run six Senate elections, and he's said he's running again. Marco Rubio (FL) and Kelly Ayotte (NH) are young and talented.
...
Though the Democrats are defending a mere 10 seats in 2016, some of those are potentially vulnerable as well. Michael Bennet of Colorado can't feel too secure after the defeat of his colleague Mark Udall. Democrat Barbara Boxer is viewed as very likely to retire, which would set up the first open seat Senate contest in California in decades — sure to be an expensive and high-profile contest. And then there's Harry Reid, who has now lost his majority leader position, and could face a tough reelection fight if he opts for another run.

Democrats need the momentum going into the presidential election to flip it back; and if they have it, they'd be likely to retake the house as well. In other words, something akin to 2008.

[BaneTheBrawler]

We can all poke fun at Sarah Palin but at least she was a leader most republicans could get behind.

Palin was never a leader. She's always been a sock puppet.

[Andalusian girls]

i'd still like to sock her puppet ifuknowwhatimean

[Andalusian girls]

her vagina.

[quannum]

biggest upset imo

http://thehill.com/policy/technology...ruck-out-in-14

All but two of the seven candidates backed by MayDay Pac lost their races on election night. The super-PAC has received large donations from technology executives and is dedicated to electing candidates who support campaign finance reform.

MayDay's only victories came in two uncompetitive districts — GOP Rep. Walter Jones in North Carolina and Democrat Ruben Gallego in Arizona's 7th District.

[tyven]

dang i thought they were gonna have 3 winners (still shitty). they got SMOKED

[Sho]

If you notice, there were no tea party people that were up against "normal" republicans. They went centrist and controlled the rhetoric and dems didn't do shit about it.

Also correct. Now the interesting political games will be played between now and 2016. Watch the intelligent and upstarts within the GOP start to make concessions to the Dems and Obama himself, under the gesture of "bipartisanship" so they look good for the 2016 season.

[Headspace]

Mid terms are a joke

[Dantrag]

Same thing will happen next time we have a republican president. If they go to a 2nd term then their midturns they will get trounced.

[Cantih]

biggest upset imo

http://thehill.com/policy/technology...ruck-out-in-14

dang i thought they were gonna have 3 winners (still shitty). they got SMOKED

Yar, I'm disappointed about this. Oh well, it was worth trying.

[Dimmauk]

Posting just so people can see the happy Karl Rove face.

The public is not happy with Obama, the GoP ran an anti-Obama campaign and they won. The sad part for me is that we still don't have have any good GoP leaders. Mitch is the top GoP in DC and that makes me sad. We can all poke fun at Sarah Palin but at least she was a leader most republicans could get behind. We have zero leadership, and we will loose everything 2016 unless we find someone who can step it up.

The fucked up part is Obama is already gone. Yall just voted for a bunch of posters on the side of the road.

[notorious bum]

I hope the Republicans and Obama can come together to finally bargain away SS and medicare cuts next year, causing a large surge in demand for Bernie Sanders to run for president.

[Priran]

nice job breaking it, hero

The hope among Democrats in Texas was that even if Wendy Davis lost, she would move the needle toward a bluer Texas.

...

Nine counties that voted for Democrat Bill White in 2010 over Gov. Rick Perry went red Tuesday night — Bexar, Culberson, Falls, Foard, Harris, La Salle, Nueces, Reeves and Trinity counties — all voted for Davis’ Republican opponent, Greg Abbott.

In fact, Democrats haven’t had such a poor showing in a Texas gubernatorial race since 1998, when Democrat Garry Mauro lost to George W. Bush by 37 points.

[Dimmauk]

nice job breaking it, hero

Bexar voted Democrat for the Lt. Governor though.

Actually, not weird. Fat diabetic Mexicans voting for a cripple and a Hispanic lady. Not surprised

[BaneTheBrawler]

U.S. elections are a joke

ftfy

[Mazmaz]

biggest upset imo

http://thehill.com/policy/technology...ruck-out-in-14

Why were they backing candidates in uncompetitive districts? Wasn't the whole point to back candidates that would have a tough fight?

[tyven]

They whole point was to support candidates that want to get money out of politics

[Mazmaz]

obv

[kuronosan]

The issue with that strategy always lies with throwaway votes to marginal candidates.

It really isn't about tough fights. It's about fights that could have been won had people got their act together and fought harder (or didn't throw their vote away).

Like I said earlier... it wasn't about policy, it was about talking points. Obama is bad. Obamacare is bad. Don't pay attention to the unsharpened pencil being shoved up your ass, just don't let Obama win. And, if you aren't voting Republican, Obama wins.

[Dantrag]

Pretty much the same thing that happened with Bush. Same thing with Clinton in his 2nd term for whatever reason.